May Co. Building - LACMA
Los Angeles, L.A., California
Reproduction of Matching 14K Glass Tile; Restoration of other Tile Surfaces
Originally constructed as a showpiece of the May Co. Dept. Stores, this unique structure was a local favorite in Los Angeles as place to shop and has since been converted as gallery and work space for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, whose main gallery is sited next door. The 14K gold glass mosaic tiles on the most prominent decorative feature of the facade had undergone widespread failure due to chemical reactions between the installation components.
Wikipedia Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_May_Department_Stores_Company
Click on images below to view at larger size.
Finding the right source for the replacement 14K gold mosaic tiles for the restoration of this giant cylinder led us to the famous island of Murano, in Venice, Italy. |
The tile had sadly undergone extensive decay, not only in the glass mosaic medium itself, but in the cementitious thin-set mortar used to attach the tile to the cast-in-place concrete substrate. |
The problem had been obvious from an early point in the life of the structure, with previous 'repairs' using inappropriate substitute materials being most obvious. |
Our primary activity was to survey and identify areas of failure and remove all original and newer materials as required, especially in areas of structural movement, such as this cold-joint in the concrete. |
Here, an area of original failed tile has been identified and prepared for the installation of new matching glass tile. |
Here is an image of newly-installed 12K tile next to original material. Over the next six months, these two sections will weather and age together, and eventually be indistinguishable from a distance greater than 10 feet. |
Hopefully, this delicate surface will be better prepared to withstand the forces of urban decay and the limitations of its own material nature. |